Caffeine In Energy Drinks Deemed “Serious Health Risk”

Troubling note to the makers of energy drinks: Hold the caffeine. That advice was given to the FDA by a group of 18 doctors, researchers and public health experts, who, according to the New York Times, claimed that energy drink makers had “failed to meet the regulatory burden placed on them to show that the ingredients used in their beverages were safe, specifically where children, adolescents and young adults are concerned.” In letter to FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, the group wrote that “there is evidence in the published scientific literature that the caffeine levels in energy drinks pose serious potential health risks, including increased risk for serious injury or even death.” The health experts urged the federal agency to restrict caffeine content in the products and to require manufacturers to include caffeine content on product labels.